European Green Pilgrimage Network​

Welcome

The European Green Pilgrimage Network (EGPN) is a faith-led network of pilgrim places, pathways and cities in Europe that are committed to promoting green, or environmentally friendly, pilgrimage. Its vision is that pilgrims leave a positive footprint on the earth, and that pilgrim places become models of care for the environment.

Pilgrimage is one of the fastest growing movements in the world, with more than 330 million people going on pilgrimage every year. Green Pilgrimage is about influencing the behaviour and attitudes of millions of pilgrims to care for the environment and reconnect with the natural world – both while on pilgrimage and also when they return home.

'The Green Pilgrimage Network isan interfaith movement... drawing attention to our call to be good stewards of creation. Whatdifference will such a pilgrimage network make? We do not yetknow but it is the beginning ofan encounter ​to celebrate and recognise that God is in ​every ​part of life.'

– The Archbishop of Canterbury,the Most Rev Justin Welby

Latest news

Green Pilgrimage Interreg Europe study trip to Romania

Members of the Green Pilgrimage Interreg Europe Project visited Romania this month on a study trip aimed at sharing experiences and best practices. And members certainly had plenty to ponder after the five-day trip which highlighted Romania's rich relationship between heritage, culture and faith.

The study visit was part of the five-year, €1.18 million Green Pilgrimage Interreg Europe Project which brings together six regions in England, Italy, Norway, Sweden and Romania to promote green pilgrimage.

​Participants learned about the importance of tourism and the development of cycling routes and pedestrian trails in Bucovina, particularly around the area's famous painted monasteries, several of which are UNESCO World Heritage sites. They also heard about the history of pilgrimage in Romania, both Orthodox and Catholic.

After a year painting yellow arrows, a new route opens

After four years of study and a year of painting yellow arrows along 930 km in Northern Italy, the Via Postumia has launched as a new path in the network of St James' Routes. The Via Postumia connects nine World Heritage sites as it crosses from East to West in Northern Italy on an ancient consular route long used by pilgrims to Jerusalem and Santiago. Conceived by Postumius Albino for military purposes, its origins date to 147 BC. Read more about it in the EGPN Winter 2017 newsletter.

EGPN Winter 2017 newsletter

Read about the development of new pilgrimage routes, plans to expand or strengthen existing pilgrim paths and celebrations of pilgrimages in the European Green Pilgrimage Network's Winter 2017 newsletter.

Interreg Europe project to promote green pilgrimage

A five-year, €1.18 million project to promote green pilgrimage in Europe launched on May 16in the ancient city of Canterbury, UK, with a series of inspiring presentations showing how the demand for pilgrimage has grown rapidly in recent years.

Aims of the European Green ​Pilgrimage Network

The European Green Pilgrimage Network sets out to reduce the environmental impact of pilgrimage and to promote environmental care as a religious responsibility. ​

That means protecting biodiversity along ​pilgrim routes and pilgrimage sites, and helping pilgrims to tread more lightly upon the earth.

It means sharing pilgrimage's universal ​values of hospitality and of welcoming the stranger, regardless of belief or origin.

And it means faith groups, municipalities, tourist authorities and other secular organisations working in partnership to green pilgrim places through renewable energy, low carbon transport, clean water and effective waste collection and recycling. ​

Who are the members?

The network comprises pilgrim places and faith groups in European countries. They range from Canterbury in the United ​Kingdom to Vadstena in Sweden and from Trondheim in Norway to Etchmiadzin in Armenia.

What do they do?

Members commit to promoting green pilgrimage practice and growing that locally. They also commit to sharing news of their success with others in the Network. This website is updated regularly to keep members in touch.​

What is green pilgrimage?

Green pilgrimage is about treading more lightly upon the earth. It supports the use oflocally produced food and crafts and encourages low carbon transport, clean water, renewable energy and greening of pilgrim buildings .

Why now?

Pilgrimage is one of the fastest growing movements in the world. More than 330 million people ​visit the world's major religious sites every year, according ​to the UN World Tourism Organisation. And in some years, such as when Hinduism's Kumbh Mela festival occurs every 12 years, those numbers rise further. Here are of the most popular pilgrimages.

3 MILLION

Muslims went on the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah in Saudi Arabia last year.